Multifunction aerodynamic housing for ballistic launch of a payload
US9273943B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B15/36
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A projectile comprises a payload and an aerodynamic outer housing. The outer housing is arranged, in launch and flight configurations, to surround the payload. The outer housing is further arranged, in the launch configuration, to be launched from a barrel of a launching gun or cannon. The outer housing is further arranged, in the flight configuration, to have a bi-tapered shape that is elongated along a fore-and-aft direction and has a longitudinal profile that tapers in both fore and aft directions. The outer housing is arranged to assume an exoatmospheric configuration upon reaching a target distance-from-launch, a target time-from-launch, a target altitude, or a target velocity. In the exoatmospheric configuration, either (i) the outer housing is arranged to release the payload or (ii) the outer housing and payload are arranged in a propulsion configuration. The projectile can include various additional components or adaptations to enable or achieve specific launch objectives.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.